Copyright Reading Eagle
For information on submitting an obituary, please contact Reading Eagle by phone at 610-371-5018, or email at obituaries@readingeagle.com or fax at 610-371-5193. Most obituaries published in the Reading Eagle are submitted through funeral homes and cremation services, but we will accept submissions from families. Obituaries can be emailed to obituaries@readingeagle.com. In addition to the text of the obituary, any photographs that you wish to include can be attached to this email. Please put the text of the obituary in a Word document, a Google document or in the body of the email. The Reading Eagle also requires a way to verify the death, so please include either the phone number of the funeral home or cremation service that is in charge of the deceased's care or a photo of his/her death certificate. We also request that your full name, phone number and address are all included in this email. All payments by families must be made with a credit card. We will send a proof of the completed obituary before we require payment. The obituary cannot run, however, until we receive payment in full. Obituaries can be submitted for any future date, but they must be received no later than 3:00 p.m. the day prior to its running for it to be published. Please call the obituary desk, at 610-371-5018, for information on pricing. Four candidates are vying for two two-year seats on the Oley Valley School Board in the Nov. 4 general election. The race features two Democrats and two Republicans. The Reading Eagle asked each of the candidates the following questions. Question 1: What characteristics do you possess that make you a good candidate to serve on a school board? Question 2: What is the biggest challenge your district is currently facing and how would you address it? Here are their responses. Incumbents denoted with an asterisk. Jodie L. Kline Party: Democrat Age: 50 Occupation: Elementary school teacher Response 1: I am a career public school educator with over 28 years of experience. I have worked my entire life in public schools. I know how schools work, what is needed and what is wasted. I can bring this experience with me to be an effective school director. I have a bachelor’s degree in education, a master’s degree in urban education and a master’s of education degree in instructional technology. I was previously appointed and served on the Oley Valley School Board for seven months to fill an open seat. I have helped write and implement individualized education plans, discipline plans and differentiated instruction. I have written curriculum. I have implemented the PSSA tests. I have been on the interview committee for teachers, principals and a superintendent. I helped negotiate the last six five-year contracts in my district. Response 2: The budget is the biggest challenge our school district faces. We want every possible available option for the best educational experience for our students, however, we need to be financially responsible with spending and creative with revenue ideas. Putting the work in to find and apply for grants could be one way to help keep our district running at the highest level while still keeping the taxes as low as possible for the community. I plan to work with the current administration to find creative ways to address the budget issues that arise. Gary Wegman Party: Democrat Age: Did not provide Occupation: Dentist and farmer Response 1: As a full-time practicing dentist, education has been a lifelong commitment. Our youth must learn that an education is not something you are given, but rather something that you must take. I intend on working hard to keep politics out of the board room, and keep all of our administrative, faculty and board director relationships healthy and professional. Having served on numerous boards, authorities and having chaired the Reading Parking Authority for four years, I know how to manage multimillion-dollar budgets from experience, and I understand how to cooperate to get things done. I’ve been an adviser to the dental occupations program at the Berks Career and Technology Center east campus, and in addition to managing my private dental practice, I ran a 35-acre vineyard for 25 years. These life experiences have blessed me with knowledge in the many areas that will be of importance for someone who has to manage our school’s financial well-being. As a senior citizen, this position will also allow me to look out for the best interests of the Oley taxpayer, in addition to grooming our next generation of the American workforce. Response 2: The American economy is an ever-changing entity. The jobs that were here for our parents and the baby boomer generation are fewer and farther between. We need to take a deep look at how we teach our reading and math skills, and tailor our curricula to prepare our Oley school graduates for the job market that is going to exist for their generation. This means some things will need to change. There is no substitute for strong critical thinking skills, and I for one am not convinced that teaching for the test is serving our students the best when it comes to being prepared for real world jobs. Cellphone use in school should be prohibited from morning bell to afternoon dismissal, except in case of emergency. Our children need to learn to be attentive and focused. The rewarding careers of the future do not only exist in a four-year post-high school degree. We need artisans, plumbers, welders, diesel mechanics and a host of health care mid-level providers for which we have excellent programs within our career and technical school’s curricula to prepare our students. We need to counsel and guide them to a career that best suits their skillset. Brian Weidner Party: Republican Did not provide a response. *Andrew C. Kline Party: Republican Did not provide a response.
